OK, school ended, many pieces were finished, much travelling has been accomplished, and now I am ready to settle in for summer and do some vivid composing, some serious reading, and above all some active listening--not to mention blogging. Here's some highlights of recent happenings:
1) I was honored by the New England Conservatory as their first ever decade Distinguished Alumni. I got some excellent performances of my pieces (Minji Noh played
Insomnia Redux; 4am and she was joined by violinist Heather Wittels for
First Scenes from Red Room) and a nice clock/plaque. But it was nice to be back in Boston after so long, and I hope to continue to do the school proud.
2) American Opera Projects: the conclusion of the first go-round of their brilliant Composers and the Voice program was a concert of our efforts. Three songs of mine were performed ("Dry Sandwiches", "Annus Mirabilis" and "Lines for Winter," settings of Kate Gale, Phliip Larkin and Mark Strand respectively) along with works by the other composers involved (Caroline Mallonee, Greg Wrammage, George Lam, Steven Taylor and Jennifer Fitzgerald) on a pair of special concerts.
3) I finsihed a piccolo/piano piece entitled
All Work and No Play which will be performed on June 10 in Weill Recital Hall by the amazing Stephanie Mortimore
4) I wrapped up my first year of adjunct teaching
5) I failed to sleep at all
6) I saw
The Coast of Utopia which changed my life
7) I read the complete works of David Markson which changed my life
8) I finsihed the sixth season of 24 to satisfying results
9) I recieved several commissions which will be blog fodder later.
After the exhaustion clears, I will be writing more frequently, turning this blog more into a "notes of a composer" after reading Daron Hagen's excellent blog that does the same. Does anyone care? Hard to say, but few days pass without someone saying "I read your blog" so perhaps people do.
But lets just say that I am again back. And thrilled. And tired.
